May 23, 2017 - Food and Drink

Have you tried all the #1 most popular rolls at these Charlotte sushi hotspots?

Claire Hart

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You can’t call yourself a sushi lover until you’ve tried the #1 roll at these top Charlotte sushi restaurants.

As an appetizer, here’s two must-order creative Charlotte sushi menu items…

baku-ice-bucket-charlotte — Baku’s Signature Ice Bucket

sushi-burrito-from-bonsai-sushi-charlotte — Just 1/2 of Bonsai Fusion’s Sushi Burrito. Oh, and they just rolled out new poke bowls that are freaking delicious.

Okay, here are the most popular rolls at 10 of Charlotte’s top sushi restaurants…

Ru San’s: Firecracker Roll

What’s inside Ru San’s Firecracker Roll? Fresh tuna and salmon rolled with sushi rice. It’s flash fried until crispy brown. The salmon is slightly cooked and the tuna remains rare. Served with a kimchi mayo sauce on the side ($9.95)

Agenda story: Ru San’s all-you-can-eat sushi lunch buffet is the IKEA of sushi and you’ll love it]

run sans sushi — If you haven’t had the $11.75 all-you-can-eat lunch buffet at Ru San’s, you’re missing out.

O-Ku: Rainbow Roll

What’s inside O-Ku’s Rainbow Roll? Seafood wrapped, filled with snow crab, cucumber, avocado, masago, and shiso dust. Lime zest rainbow tobiko, spicy aioli, eel sauce, togarashi ($14).

[Agenda story: You’re going to want to eat your way through O-Ku’s new spring menu, including a $25 roll]

o-ku-sushi-charlotte — O-Ku Sushi hit the ground running in Charlotte. It’s the best atmosphere out of any of our city’s sushi restaurants.

Pisces Sushi Bar and Lounge: Screaming “O” Roll

What’s inside Pisces’ Screaming “O” Roll? Spicy tuna, shrimp tempura roll, topped with seared tuna, jalapeño and spicy screaming “O” sauce ($14).

[Agenda story: Strategies to maximize the $11 all-you-can-eat sushi lunch special at Pisces]

best-sushi-roll-from-pisces-charlotte — Huge fan of dropping a thinly sliced jalapeno on a roll. Photo and cover via Allie Papajohn.

Nikko Dragon Roll:

What’s inside Nikko’s Dragon Roll? Shrimp tempura rolled in rice; avocado, eel on top. Eel, shrimp tempura, cucumber, tuna avocado, spicy eel sauce ($13)

Cowfish: Tropical Storm Roll

What’s inside Cowfish’s Tropical Storm Roll? Kani, avocado and cucumber, topped with tuna, salmon, yellowtail, Japanese mayo, sweet eel sauce, sriracha, and multi-colored tobiko. Served with wasabi yuzu dipping sauce ($19)

mark's-roll-cowfish-charlotte-sushi — Agenda’s favorite Cowfish roll is the Mark’s Roll ($15): Fresh tuna, jalapeño, cream cheese, kani, scallions inside, coated with panko and flash fried. Topped with Japanese mayo and sriracha. Served with ponzu dipping sauce.

Cowfish’s most popular non-tradition roll? The All-American Bacon Double Cheeseburgooshi — Seasoned Certified Angus Beef, yellow cheddar cheese, white cheddar cheese, applewood bacon, and red onion, wrapped in soy paper and potato strings then flash fried. Topped with ketchup, mustard, dill pickle and Roma tomato. Served atop Cowfish sauce and comes with house seasoned fries ($15)

gooble-gooble-ooshi-roll-cowfish-charlotte — Want to get even weirder? Just wait for the Gobble Gobble Ooshi roll this Thanksgiving. No, I’m not kidding.

New Zealand Cafe: Rainbow Roll

What’s inside New Zealand Cafe’s Rainbow Roll? California roll draped with tuna, salmon, white fish, shrimp and smelt roe ($8.95)

Yama Asian Fusion: H&M Roll

What’s inside Yama’s H&M Roll? Tuna & avocado topped with tuna, tempura flakes, masago & scallion with spicy sauce ($14)

Sushi Guru: Guru Roll

What’s inside Sushi Guru’s Guru Roll? Tuna, lump crab and avocado drizzled with their signature spicy aioli, flash baked and topped with fried garlic and shallots ($15)

guru-roll-from-sushi-guru-charlotte — Guru Roll (right) is outstanding and the fried garlic on top gives it a smokey taste. On the left is the Tuna Lover Roll which isn’t nearly as tasty as the Guru Roll.

Sushi 101: Professor Vu Roll

What’s inside Sushi 101’s Professor Vu roll? Shrimp tempura and cream cheese roll topped with avocado, tuna, crab salad and scallions ($11.95)

Koishi: Cherry Blossom Roll

What’s inside Koishi’s Cherry Blossom roll? Tempura shrimp, spicy tuna, avocado in soy paper, special sauce ($10.95)

cherry-blossom-roll-sushi-koishi-charlotte — Located in an old Pizza Hut space in Cotswold.